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Ella Minnow Pea Important Quotes

“he fall of the tile bearing the letter ‘Z’ constitutes the terrestrial manifestation of an empyrean Nollopian desire, that desire most surely being that the letter ‘Z’ should be utterly excised—fully extirpated—absolutively heaven ho’ed from our communal vocabulary.” (Chapter 1, p. 6)

The first letter falls and the Council understands it to mean Nollop wants it eradicated from their language. The decision affects the entire novel—culminating in the worship of Nollop as an all-knowing being.

“nlike our feathered neighbors who protest the tiniest importunities against their dignity, we will keep our beaks clamped tightly shut, not emitting even so much as a peep of dissatisfaction.”(Chapter 1, p. 10)

The quote compares the citizens to geese that protest any issue to their existence. However, as seemingly obedient citizens who far outnumber the Council, they keep their mouths shut against the banished letters leaving their vocabulary.

“I am angry and rebellious. In my head, I am reciting what I recall of my niece’s last letter, allowing the illegal words to baste and crisp. I cook the words, serve them up, devour them greedily. In the sanctuary of my thoughts, I am a fearless renegade. Yet in the company of the children I cringe and cower in the most depreciating way.” (Chapter 2, p. 18)

Rebellion for the lost words continues in the citizen’s minds. However, as the previous quote hints, their mouths remain shut. Rebellion starts in the mind and builds.

“All were speakers of the banned words—words overheard upon the lanes, in schoolyards and church pews, and on the common greens. Neighbor turning upon neighbor, perpetuating old grievances with this new weapon unleashed upon us by the High Island Council.” (Chapter 2, p. 21)

Neighbors turn against one another—they use the illusion of power to gain something over those who wronged them before. However, the society harms itself rather than working together.

“As Mum holds tightly to Pop I watch them trying to feel what once came so soft and easy. Yet the growing fear coils about us in such a way that affection becomes like a bud-never-bloom. The sweet scent is there—the innate…

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